Sydney FC lost their first game of the Hyundai A-League 2015-16 season in an enthralling game that the Sky Blues deserved something from.
Summary
Sydney FC 2 (Holosko 5’, Brosque 20’) def. by Melbourne Victory 4 (Berisha 9‘, 92’ Finkler 27’, Barbarouses 67’)
Sydney FC lost their first game of the Hyundai A-League 2015-16 season in an enthralling game that the Sky Blues deserved something from.
Filip Holosko opened the scoring in the 5th minute for Sydney FC before Berisha equalised for the Victory from a deflected shot. Brosque restored Sydney FC’s lead at the end of a slick move between himself and Smeltz until Finkler equalised with a shot just inside Janjetovic’s post.
The Sky Blues created numerous chances, hitting the bar and post and dominated the second half, but were hit on the counter when Barbarouses fired home getting on the end of another deflected shot.
As Sydney FC pushed for an equaliser in the final stages, Berisha put the game beyond doubt with a solo effort.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “I thought overall the two sides were equal. Two-two and we hit the post twice in one phase through Smetlz and Jurman and they go down the other end, Finkler has a shot that’s going about 10 metres wide cops a deflection and falls to the feet of Barbarouses and he scores.
“Overall I thought our performance was very good, Alex Gersbach and Rhyan Grant were excellent going forward, the delivery and our purpose going forward was much more of what I expect.
“Victory have got that form at the moment and things are falling for them but that will change and things will turn. I look at our performance and I was very pleased with the style we played, the way we played and we created a lot of opportunities so it’s good.”
Goals
5’ HOLOSKO GOAL – Great work from Alex Gersbach on the left hand side, driving into the penalty box, beating a couple of challenges before sliding the ball across the 6 yard box where Holosko is waiting to tap home from 2 yards.
9’ BERISHA GOAL – Berisha turns Faty on the edge of the box before hitting a shot which takes a deflection off the boot of Jurman to take it beyond Janjetovic.
20’ BROSQUE GOAL – Brosque wins the ball in the air against Deng before releasing Smeltz in the right channel to shoot. The Kiwi’s low shot is only parried by Vukovic and Brosque is there to tap home from 8 yards.
27’ FINKLER GOAL – Finkler is played the ball inside the box by Georgievski. He turns towards goal and fires just inside the near post.
67’ BARBAROUSES GOAL – Finkler has a shot from the edge of the box which is deflected off Tavares into the path of Barbarouses who prods it beyond Janjetovic.
92’ BERISHA GOAL – Berisha receives the ball on the edge of the box and drives at the Sky Blues defence before drilling a shot just inside the post.
Key Moments
19’ HOLOSKO CHANCE – Grant puts Murnane under pressure forcing the full back to turn back towards his goal. Murnane mis-controls allowing Grant to bustle his way past and slide a cross to the back post. Georgievski is there but makes a hash of the clearance playing it to Holosko who takes one touch to control on his chest before unleashing a powerful shot just past the right post of Vukovic.
54’ SMELTZ CHANCE – DelPierre passes the ball back across his goal straight to Smeltz who takes it down on his chest to shoot but Broxham is back to impede the shot. The ball is knocked in the air towards Ninkovic who has his back climbed on by Georgievski as he heads away but claims for a penalty are turned down.
60’ OFF THE BAR AND POST – A right wing corner from Gersbach comes to the back post where Smeltz stretches to head off the bar. The ball falls to Jurman and his left foot shot cannons off the post and to safety for Victory.
62’ SMELTZ PENALTY TURNED DOWN – Brosque plays in Smeltz on goal and the striker takes a shot just as DelPierre slides in missing the ball but Beath waves away penalty claims.
70’ BROXHAM ALMOST OWN GOAL – Rhyan Grant crosses into the box from the right wing and Broxham swings out a leg forcing the ball towards goal where Vukovic has to react and push away.
74’ SIMON CHANCE – Gersbach drives down the left hand side and crosses to Simon inside the six yard box but he can’t force the ball home.
Team News
Sydney FC 2 (Holosko 5’, Brosque 20’) def. by Melbourne Victory 4 (Berisha 9‘, 92’ Finkler 27’, Barbarouses 67’)
Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold made two changes to the starting line-up from the eleven that faced Brisbane Roar eight days earlier. Alex Gersbach came in at left back with Rhyan Grant moving to right back and Seb Ryall to the bench. Milos Dimitrijevic came in to partner Mickael Tavares in midfielder with Brandon O’Neill reverting to the bench also.
Attendance: 15,947
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Chris Beath
Sydney FC: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 3. Alex GERSBACH, 5. Matt JURMAN, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9. Shane SMELTZ (18. Matt SIMON 68’) 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 19. Jacques FATY, 21. Filip HOLOSKO(24. George BLACKWOOD 78’), 23. Rhyan GRANT, 27. Mickael TAVARES (13. Brandon O’NEILL 85’).
Subs not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI, 2. Seb RYALL.
Yellow cards: Tavares 25’, Brosque 45’, Holosko 64’, Simon 97’.
Red cards: None.
Melbourne Victory: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (GK), 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6.Leigh BROXHAM (c), 7.Gui FINKLER (22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS 94’), 8.Besart BERISHA, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH (19.George HOWARD 89’), 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.Matthieu DELPIERRE, 18.Dylan MURNANE, 24.Thomas DENG (9.Kosta BARBAROUSES 45’).
Subs not used: 20.Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 32.Stefan NIGRO.
Yellow cards: Finkler 32’, Barbarouses 79’.
Red cards: None.
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